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PGF Nationals 16U: The Beverly Bandits Take It Down to the Last Strike To Beat the Bombers

The Beverly Bandits-Conroy team, winners of the 2019 PGF 16U Premier Nationals.

She is human.

After 33 scoreless innings and four shutouts this week, Beverly Bandits-Conroy pitcher Regan Krause (2020, Illinois) wasn’t perfect on Saturday at the 2019 PGF 16U Premier Nationals, but she did just enough to get Bill Conroy’s team a 16U title for the second time in the three years as the team from Chicago beat the Texas Bombers-Jones team 5-4.

It came down to the last pitch, however, as Krause–who was chosen today as the PGF 16U Tournament MVP by Extra Inning Softball–had loaded the bases with two outs and leadoff hitter Avery Hodge (2022, Oklahoma) stretched the count to 3-and-2 before grounding out to Easton Lotus (2021, uncommitted) at second who flipped to shortstop Anna Holloway (2021, Notre Dame) to start the celebration for the Bandits.

“Oh my gosh!” the pitcher exclaimed after the game. “I don’t even remember throwing the last pitch, I just remember it going into Easton’s glove and she threw it to second (base). This is unbelievable, my team played so well behind me, I’m so proud of them.”

Krause gave up 11 hits, but did have 11 strikeouts and pitched out of several tight sports. It also helped that the Bombers stranded 11 baserunners. She admitted she was a bit nervous in the bottom of the seventh.

“With bases loaded and their best hitter up it was kind of nerve-wracking, but we’ve practiced for moments like these since we were little.”

A view from the stands.

The Bandits got on the board first when Taylor Minnick (2021, Tennessee) hit a shot down the right field line in the top of the 2nd inning that curled into the corner allowing Minnick to hustle all the way around the bases for an inside-the-park home run.

“I didn’t even see it hit,” Minnick said, “I just started running.”

The Bombers tied it in the bottom of the 3rd when Hodge reached first on an infield hit and scored from second on an Aaliyah Ortiz (2020, McNeese State) RBI single. It was the first run Krause had given up all week and she looked to be in control when the Bandits put up three runs in the top of the 4th inning.

Lilly Villamont went 1-for-2 with a walk for the Bandits.

Holloway doubled off the centerfield wall and  came home to push the score to 2-1 when starting Bombers pitcher Sophia Simpson threw her second wild pitch in the at-bat of Lilly Vallimont.

Haley Panfil (2020, Charleston Southern) walked and took second unimpeded after Vallimont advanced to third on another ball in the dirt and both came home on a two-out error by the third baseman on a throw to first that made the score 4-1.

The Bombers weren’t done and threatened in the bottom of the 5th inning when Hodge and Ashley LaRue (2020, Ole Miss)both singled to left field with only one out, but Krause got a strikeout and groundout to short to escape without any runs.

However, in the bottom of the 6th, Teagan Whitley laid a perfect bunt down that came to rest on the chalk and she advanced to third on a double by Kramer Eschete that put runners in scoring position with no outs.

Regan Krause said her drop and change were working this week.

Pinch-hitter Maggie Herdejurgen singled past the outstretched glove of second baseman Lotus to drive in two runs and draw the Bombers within one at 4-3. Larue singled with one out and the bases loaded to tie the game, but Krause induced a grounder to Holloway at shortstop who came home to get a force for out two.

“She made a great play coming home and that was probably the turning point of the game,” said Krause. “That was really clutch.”

A grounder to Cassidy Grimm at third ended the scoring threat.

The Bandits responded with the game winner in the top of the 7th inning when Minnick hit a one-out double over the outstretched glove of Bomber left fielder Reese Scott.

Gabby Altobelli lined a clean single to right field and Minnick scored standing up to put the Bandits back in the lead 5-4 and create the drama of the bottom of the 7th inning when Krause walked two and gave up a a single to Kramer Eschete (2021, Louisiana Lafayette).

Conroy has now won four 16U’s in the Bandits organization and says this team was “Different. They had fun first and they had to be having fun to win. To play their best they have to have fun to win and they had fun all year.”

Krause battled in the 7th inning with the bases loaded.

 

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